Walking Poles & Sticks

Safe descent to the valley with walking poles

On trekking tours or on simple hikes - anyone, who has tried using walking or hiking poles will never want to go without them again. Good walking poles offer additional stability on difficult terrain, support your weight on the way down, and give you that extra bit of strength on your way uphill. The most important benefit of trekking poles is medical: the use of walking poles will relieve the strain on your hips, knees, and ankles. They are particularly beneficial on steep downhill sections and in uneven terrain.

A good quality walking pole can also help prevent accidents and minimize the risk of injury on trekking tours.

The right trekking poles - what should I know beforehand?

A walking pole is usually made of aluminum or carbon fiber, which is a carbon-reinforced resin. Carbon fiber walking poles are particularly light-weight and robust. They also are very shock-absorbent, as they do not pass on the ground impact to the hand of the user. Aluminum walking poles are generally a little heavier than their carbon fiber counterparts, but mostly also a little less expensive.

A good walking pole will also have a handle made of quality material. Most handles are made of either cork or a plastic material. Another important aspect is the leash, which not only secures the pole. It also supports the wrist hold and ensures optimized power transmission from your arm to the walking pole.

You can also get walking poles with variable lengths. Many models have sophisticated clamping systems for variable height adjustment, which means that any person of any body height can use it in any terrain. What if your backpack is short of space? Some manufacturers also offer folding trekking poles, which can be reduced to a very small pack size.